ABAP needs to act now

The fact that only Carlo Paalam will be the only Filipino boxer returning home with a medal from the 20th Asian Games is proof that the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) needs to land a knockout punch before it gets counted out.

Five boxers were sent to compete in the ongoing Asian Games in Nagoya but only Paalam, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist in the flyweight class, squeezed his way through the eliminations.

Today (2 October), Paalam goes for the gold in the 55-kilogram class against Japanese Yui Yamaguchi.

A win will hand the Philippines its first top finish in boxing since Rey Saludar grabbed the flyweight gold in the 2010 Asiad in Guangzhou.

Experience-wise, Paalam has the obvious edge but taking on somebody from the host country has its drawbacks not because Paalam is going to get screwed but somehow, fighting a hometown bet poses problems.

So what happens if Paalam succeeds?

Do we forget about the five others who failed to make the podium and wound up as tourists cum cheerleaders in Japan?

You see, the six-member squad was made up of Paalam and two other Olympic medalists.

Nesthy Petecio was also a silver medalist in Tokyo and a bronze medalist in Paris and Aira Villegas also bagged the bronze.

But both of them got ousted early alongside Junmilardo Ogayre and Riza Pasuit.

The team actually numbered seven since the ABAP had also included Eumir Marcial in the lineup and entered in the 80-kg class.

But Marcial and the ABAP decided at the last minute not to proceed because Marcial would have to travel 15 hours across the Pacific with his body still recovering from his fight with Ulises Huerta in California.

So what am I driving at?

The ABAP is having trouble finding new talent to beef up its pool.

It can’t always rely on guys like Marcial to step up to the plate every time a major tournament is on the horizon.

Paalam is nearing the twilight of a storied career at 28 and the Los Angeles Olympics could be his last stop.

Petecio is almost done. She is 34 and she would be in her mid-30s if and when she qualifies for LA 2028.

While the ABAP’s main men are not getting any younger, some of its best-kept secrets have decided to look for greener pastures.

Mark Ashley Fajardo, just 21 and a big guy, makes his professional debut next week in General Santos City under JC Mananquil.

The Cebu-born banger, who took the bronze in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, debuts in the welterweight class.

One major factor why the ABAP is now having a hard time recruiting is the restructuring of the weight classes.

There was a time when the Philippines had multiple solid bets in the 49-kg bracket.

Remember Leopoldo Serantes? He took bronze in the Seoul Olympics.

Roel Velasco? Also bronze winner four years later in Barcelona.

And, of course, his younger brother, Onyok, who got the silver in Atlanta in 1996.

The 49-kg is now non-existent. Obsolete as far as the Asian Games and the Olympics are concerned.

Given the Filipinos’ small build, excluding this weight class has proved to be a major blow.

In place of the 49-kg is the 55-kg.

So what will happen to the ABAP’s recruitment program in the grassroots level like in the Palarong Pambansa

Get my drift?

One of the coaches I spoke to also made me understand why the ABAP is in a tight bind.

“In the heavier weight classes, it’s a lot harder because big guys tend to play basketball than get into boxing,” he said.

I just shook my head.

So regardless of what happens to Paalam in his gold medal bout, the ABAP has to ramp up its talent discovery drive before that devastating punch connects.

It can’t just sulk and point an accusing finger on the restructuring of the weight classes.